# Common Sense Media vs Pixie

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pixie at 100% against Common Sense Media's 60%. Pixie also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Common Sense Media's advantage is ratings volume (8.7K vs 40) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Common Sense Media sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Pixie sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Common Sense Media holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Common Sense Media has 8.7K ratings behind it against 40, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Common Sense Media's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pixie's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Common Sense Media ships an update every 3 weeks, Pixie weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Common Sense Media | Pixie |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (8.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-sense-media/id6443335877/reviews)** | [4.6 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixie-raise-creative-thinkers/id6737147663/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **8.7K** | 40 |
| Positive reviews | 59.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 84 MB | 156 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Common Sense Media](https://appshunter.io/developer/375331358) | [Fabletronic Technologies Pvt Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1822486211) |

## What reviewers say

### Common Sense Media

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/common-sense-media/id6443335877)

This app provides parents with unbiased reviews and ratings for movies, TV shows, games, apps, and more. It helps families discover safe and age-appropriate content for children by detailing mature themes and positive messages. Users can filter content by age, interests, and streaming services, and create custom watchlists.

**Highlights:** Content ratings for movies, TV, games, apps, books, podcasts, Details on mature and positive content elements, Community reviews from parents and kids, Filter content by age, interests, and streaming services, Customizable watch and read lists, Curated collections of media

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Weekly Plan | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Yearly Plan | $39.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helpful for finding appropriate content
- 🚀 Convenient app version of the website
- 💡 Detailed reviews on movies, books, and shows
- 🔒 Trustworthy source for parents

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Paywall restricts access to basic features
- 🐛 Login issues and app crashes
- 💰 Subscription cost is too high
- 🤔 Inconsistent or inaccurate reviews

**Reported bugs**

- Constant log-out issues
- Unreliable login functionality
- Compatibility problems on older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to mark content as already viewed
- More customization options for user preferences
- Improved search and recommendation algorithms


### Pixie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixie-raise-creative-thinkers/id6737147663)

Create personalized audio stories where your child is the hero. Weave in their name, friends, and favorite characters, along with life lessons like kindness or bravery. Enjoy screen-free, immersive storytelling designed to relax, imagine, and learn.

**Highlights:** Personalized audio stories with child as hero, Inclusion of child's name and friends, Life lessons woven into narratives, Screen-free listening experience, Calming narration and music, Stories from diverse cultures and mythology

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus | $4.99 | per month |
| Super | $6.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Common Sense Media free?

Common Sense Media is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pixie free?

Pixie is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Common Sense Media or Pixie?

Common Sense Media is rated higher. Common Sense Media averages 4.8 out of 5 from 8.7K ratings, while Pixie averages 4.6 from 40 ratings.

### Do Common Sense Media or Pixie have ads?

Common Sense Media shows ads; Pixie does not.

### Which is updated more often, Common Sense Media or Pixie?

Common Sense Media ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pixie weekly. Most recently, Common Sense Media was updated on October 13, 2026 and Pixie on October 14, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*